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Anonymous asked: Dear Lori, So I like to write and was thinking about maybe reworking an old fanfic with original characters ect. to submit to a publisher specializing in homoerotic works. I'm not particularly ashamed of this, but I'm a bit worried about what my family might think should I happen to get published. Do I say "HEY MOM, MY GAY PORN JUST GOT PUBLISHED!" Or should I just not mention it? HELP!

Well, first of all, I wouldn’t present your writing as “gay porn!” There are less aggressive and more accurate ways to describe fiction like this. I usually refer to my published novel as a “gay romantic thriller.” Sure it has smutty scenes, but so do ordinary romance novels. Are those described as “porn?” No. It’s porn if there’s nothing BUT sex scenes, thinly strung together.

The degree to which you describe your work to your family depends on your family. My family knows everything about my book. I told them that I was publishing a book, and they were thrilled. I told them it was a romantic thriller about two men, and there were smutty bits, and that I would absolutely not be insulted if they chose not to read it. They were all happy for me regardless of their own inclination to read the book. My mom’s read it and so have a few of my cousins. I don’t know if others have, and it doesn’t really matter. But my family aren’t the judgmental sort, nor are they homophobic.

The problem is that even if you try to hide the book’s content, if you tell them ANYTHING, they’re going to want to know more. So if you’re super uncomfy about the subject matter, or think they will react badly, the best approach is to say nothing. Which sucks in the extreme. Or you could try easing them into it. First just say you’re publishing a romance novel. You don’t have to say it’s about dudes or that it’s sexy. Then later ease into the “it’s about dudes” thing.

22 February 2012 ·